Casting machine



Nov; 4, 1941. J. E. BATIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH E. BATIE' FIG. 3.

Nov. 4, 1941.

J. E. BATIE CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 2'7, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 lNVENToR. JOSEPH E. BATIE FIGQ4.

ATTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1941. J; E. BATIE 2,251,612

CASTING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 26 FIG. 9.

H6. IO. 7 I

JQSEPH E. BATIE l v v of a portion of Figure 1;

Patented Nov. 4, 1941 cas'rnvc MACHINE Joseph E. Batie, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Kelsoy-Hayes Wheel Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Delaware Application November 27, 1939, Serial No. 306,418

. 13 Claims.

The invention relates to casting machines and refers more particularly tomachines for casting liners in brake drum shells.

The invention has for some of its objects to provide an improved casting machine having means for supporting the shell independently of its external surface during the heating of .the shell to minimize the heat' loss; to provide an improved casting machine having means for t or cor recting any distortion of the annular portion of the shell after the heating; and to provide an improved casting machine having means for supporting the annular portion of the shell during the casting of the liner.

The invention has for other objects toso construct the machine that the portion of the shell to and fused or molecularly bonded to the annular flanges of the shells and also the peripheral parts of the webs of the shells. The shells are pref- 1 erably formed from flat sheet steel blanks by a suitable drawing operation.

The casting machine comprises a number of casting units I which are mounted upon the horizontally revoluble table 2. Each casting unit extends generally radially of the table and is so arranged that the various steps in the manufacture may be readily carried out, the shell and the be heated is subjected to a gas flame directed at an angle to reduce the harmful impingement upon the air excluding coating; to construct the machine so that the gas flame contacts the whole. inner surface of the annular flange of the shell to more uniformly heat the annular flange; and to so construct the ladle containing the fluid liner material that when the ladle-is tilted to pour the material into the shell trapping or air 7 against the annulanflange is avoided.

With these as well asother objects in view, the invention resides in the novel features of construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view, partly .broken away, oi.

- a casting machine embodying my invention;

Figure 2 .is an enlarged view, partly in section,

Figure 3 is an endj view, partly in Figure 2-;

. Figure 4 is an enlarged cross section on the lin H01 Figure 1;

Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged detail views of the section, of

air and gas control valve and the air control valve 1; of Figure 4;

. rolls 1.

the arrow indicated in Figure 1 by means of the Figure '7 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Figure 4;

Figures 8 and 9 are enlarged cross sections on the lines 8-8 and F9, respectively, of Figure 'I; Figure. 10 is an enlarged view or a portion of the cylinder assembly of Figure 7;

Figure 11 is an enlarged view of a portion of I Figure 2 showing the liner cast into the shell;

Figure 12 is a cross section on the line |2-l2 of Figure 11.

The machine, as illustrated in the present instance, is used in the manufacture of composite brake drums of that type having wrought metal shells and cast iron liners centriiugally cast into preferably formed of arcuate sections, secured to the upper and lower sides of the I-beams. The table is supported at its central portion by suitably supporting the hub 3 upon the bed 6 and at its peripheral portion by the peripherally spaced The table is rotated in the direction of electric drive unit '8 below the table and having the driving pinion 9 in engagement with the anfnular rack l0 secured to the underside of the table. During rotation of the table, a brake drum shell is inserted into a casting unit in the zone A of Figure 1, after which the shell isrotated and heated through the zone B. Immediately after the heating, the shell-while still being rotated is lined in zone C and the rotation of the shell continues through the zone 1) until the liner has solidified sufliciently, after which the lined shell is removed in the zone A. With the arrangement as shown, unloading of the lined shell and loading of an unlined shell occurs in the zone A. -Heating of the unlined shell during its rotation occurs in the zone B. Casting oi the liner into the unlined shell occurs in the zone 0. Cooling of, the liner and shell occurs in the zone D.

Each casting unit is mounted upon the bed II which in turn ismounted upon the upper side of thetable 2 near its periphery. The bed carries the upright bearings 12 spaced from each other radially of the table. l I3 is a hollow shaft extending radially of the table and journaled in the bearings and having secured to its inner end the pulley l4 and to its outer end the head IS. The

. pulley is engaged by the belts l6 which are driven by the electric motor -;l'| mounted upon the table 2. ID are rods extending transversely outwardly from the head l5 parallel to the hollow. shaft l3,

- the inner ends or the rods being fixedly secured to the head. These rods have fixedly secured to their outer ends the 'rifids which carries the sealing element 26. The sealing element comprises the annular adaptor plate 2l fixedly secured to the inner side of the ring l9 and the annular sealing member 22 located in a recess in the inner side of the adaptor plate. The sealing ring is formed with the. inwardly extending hollow rib 23, the inner or nose portion of which preferably has Very short parallel sides and the remainder of which has flared sides. The sealing ring is coated with a suitable heat resistant material, preferably having a carbon base and a molasses binder. 241s a second hollow shaft axially slidable within and guided by the hollow shaft l3. The second shaft is adapted to be reciprocated by the piston 25 which is reciprocable in the cylinder 26 concentric with the shafts and fixedly secured to the inner side of the pulley 14. A suitable medium under pressure, preferably compressed air, may be admitted to and exhausted from either side of the piston through the pipes 21 and 21' under the control of the valve 29, the exhaust from the valve being through the pipe 28. The valve is adapted to be manually operated and is of standard construction manufactured by a well known manufacturing concern. The connection between the second shaft 24 and the piston 25 comprises the piston rod 30, the stud 3| threaded into the outer end of the piston rod and having the integral collar 32 abutting the inner end of the second shaft 24, and the pin 33 which extend through the outer end of. the stud and the inner end portion of the second shaft. The arrangement' is such that the second shaft is positively reciprocated inboth directions and in its outer direction the pin is relieved from shear by the collar upon the stud. Fixed upon the outer end of the second shaft 24 is the central abutment 34 and the support 35. The support com prises the body 36 which is sleeved upon an; guided by the rods I8 and the ring 31 which is positioned concentrically in the body.

36 is a third shaft which is axially slidably mounted in and guided by the second shaft 24. The third shaft has flxedly secured to its outer end the pilot abutment 39 and, as shown, is provided with the collars 40 and 4| for slidably engaging the second shaft 24. '42 is a coil spring within the second shaft and located between the stud 3| and the third shaft for yieldably urging.

the third shaft axially outwardly. It will be noted that the central abutment 34 is adapted to enage the outer collar 40 to limit the outward movement of the third shaft. The pilot abutment 39 is adapted to receive the web 43 of the wrought metal brake drum shell, the pilot portion being adapted to extend through the central opening in the web and the abutment portion being adapted to abut the adjacent portion of the web. The brake drum shell is inserted in the machine by passing the shell downwardly between the sealing element 20 and the support until the central opening in its web has registered with the third shaft 38, after which the third shaft is urged inwardly against the resistance of the spring 42 and the shell is located on the pilot abutment, after which the spring in urging the third shaft outwardly moves theshell' outwardly until the collar abuts the abutment 34. At'this time the flared portion 44 of the annular flange of the shell loosely engages the sealing ring 22, the uppermost part of the flared portion resting lightly upon the uppermost part of the rib 23 and the remaining part of the flared portion being spaced sufliciently from the rib to permit the passage of flame therebetween.

46 is an electricswitch mounted upon the table near its periphery and adapted to be manually operated to electrically connect the electric cylindrical body 56 and the series of nozzles 5| inclined to the radii passing therethrough in the general direction of rotation of the shell. so that the flame does not harmfully impinge on the air excluding flux coating upon the inner surface of the annular flange of the .shell to destroy the coating. The burner is carried by'the tubular arm 52 which has a swivel connection with the conduit 53. The arm with its burner and the conduit are carried by the upright post 54 which is journaled in and supported upon the bracket 55 at one side of the ring l9.

The conduit 53 connects into the outlet end of the venturi 56. 51. and 58 are conduits for conducting gas and compressed air respectively to the venturi, the conduit 5! connecting into the throat of the venturi and the conduit 58 connecting into the inlet end of the venturi. 59 is a dual valve in the conduits 5'! and 58 for controlling the passage of gas and air therethrough to be mixed. The valve is of standard construction manufactured by .a well known manufacturing concern. The valve is operated by the swinging of the burner through the upright rod 60 connected to the valve and supported upon the table 2. 6| is an arm upon the rod connected to one end of the link 62, the other end of the link being connected to the arm 63 upon the conduit 52' which turns with the arm 52 and is swivelled tothe conduit 53.

64 is a ladle for containing a predetermined amount of molten iron to be poured against the inner surface of the annular flange of the brake drum shell while the shell is being rotated. 65 is abracket upon the table at the side of the ring I9 opposite the bracket 55. 66 is an arm mounted upon the bracket and journaled on the upright pin 61 extending upwardly above the bracket. Thefree end of the arm 66 has journaled therein the horizontal shaft 68 to which is fixedly secured the arm 69 carrying the ladle. 10 is a suitable handle extending transversely from the free end of the shaft 68. The construction is such that the ladle may beswung from its inoperative position into its operative position swinging the arm 66 horizontally. Then when the ladle is in operative position it may be tilted by swinging the shaft 68 in the arm. The ladle is preferably provided in its mouth with the notch ll located in line with that part of the enlarged annular portion of the annular flange of the shell inwardly beyond the sealing ring 22 so that when theladle is tilted molten iron will be poured first into the enlarged annular portion and then into all the exposed part of the annular flange. With this arrangement, trapping of air in the enlarged annular portion is avoided.

The burner 49 and the ladle 64 are operated in timed relation to each other, the two bein mechanically connected so that while both may assume inoperative positions outside the brake drum shell, either may be swung to operative position within the shell, the other being in inoperative position. 12 is a link connected at one end to brake drum shell and directing its passage between the sealing element and the flared portion of the annular flange of the shell, the guard 75 is provided. This guard is in the nature of a plate secured to the outer side ofthe burner 49 in such position that when the burner is in its operative position within the brake drum shell the guard is located in substantially the plane of the sealing ring 22. 15 is a pilot burner which is connected at all times by the pipe 'I'l to the gas conduit 57 on the side of the valve 59 opposite the venturi so that there is a pilot light at all times during the operation of the machine. The burner is located at the outer side of the guard I 3 which at all times receives a constant supply of gas from the conduit 51 lights the gas as it emerges from the nozzles and passes the guard plate 15 so that when the burner is in its operative position the flame comes into contact with the .inner surface of the annular flange of the shell. However, by reason of the angle of the plate 15 which has an outer diameter smaller than the inner diameter of the sealing element so that when the burner is swung into operative position within the brake drum shell and the mixture of gas and air emerges from the burner the mixture will be ignited by the pilotlight.

18 is an upright tank mounted at the center of the table 2 and provided with the partition 19. 80 is a turbo blower mounted upon the table and having its outlet opening into the tank chamber below the partition for supplying air under pressure. 8| is a gas supply conduit connected to the conduit 82 by the swivel connection 83, the conduit 82 opening into the tank chamber above the partition. Theconduit 58 communicates with the compressed air chamber while the conduit 51 communicates with the gas chamber. 85 is a compressed air supply conduit having its end secured to the ring 85' mounted upon the head 85 to permit the latter to rotate .with the table. The ring with the head forms the chamber 81 which communicates with the conduit 88 leading to the annular conduit 89 carried upon the table. The annular conduit is adapted to be connected to the compressed air control valve 29 by the pipe 90. There are the two conduits 51. and 58 and the one pipe 90 for each casting unit.

In operation, assuming the unloaded casting unit to be in the zone A, as indicated in Figure l, a sealing ring 22 is inserted into the adaptor plate 2| of the casting unit, and then an unlined brake drum shell, which has been previously passed through a bath containing a suitable air excluding flux, is inserted in the casting unit by moving thethird shaft 38 inwardly sufliciently to mount the shell on the pilot abutment 29, after which the third shaft is permitted under the action of its spring 42 to move the shell out- ,wardly to lightly engage the free edge of the annular flange of the shell with the sealing ring 22, as previously described. The switch 46 is then operated so that the electric motor I! will drivethe revoluble parts of the casting unitand also the shell. Then the burner 49 is manually swung into operative position inside the shell durmg which time the valve 59 is opened. The

V rotated to its closed nozzles harmful impingement of the fla'me upon the flu-x coating is avoided. It will be noted that the sealing ring 22 and the guard plate 15 serve to retain the flame and, furthermore, act to guide the flame so that it passes along the outer side of the flared portion of the annular flange of the shell, there being suflicient play between the flared portion and the sealing ring'to permit this. The heating continues throughout the zone B, indicated in Figure l, and the parts at this time are" in the positions illustrated in Figure 7. The temperature of the annular flange is raised to approximately 1300 F. by this heating. After the heating, the burner is swung outwardly from within the shell to inoperative position.. At the same time the dual valve 59 is position to thereby shut off the supply of gas and air to the burner.

Immediately after the burner is removed from its operative position inside the shell, the air control valve 29 is manually operated to admit air' into the inner end of the cylinder'26 to thereby move the piston 25 outwardly. This piston through the piston rod 30 and the stud 3i moves the second shaft 24 outwardly, which in turn moves the support 35 outwardly. The ring 37 of the support externally engages the annular flange to true the same in the event that any distortion from heating has occurred. The ring,

' tion of the sealing ring 22.

preferably provided with the internal angularly in addition, sizes the annular flange and supports the same during the subsequent casting step. The ring also engages the flared portion 44 of the annular flange of the shell and tightly clamps the shell against the inner or nose por- The ring 31 is spaced projections 92 which form angularly or peripherally spaced lands for externally engaging the annular flange and also its flared free edge portion to reduce conduction of heat from the annular flange. After the engagement of the supporting ring with the annular flange of the shell, the ladle 64 which has been filled with a predetermined amount of molten iron is swunginto operative position insidethe shell and then tilted to first pour molten iron-against the exposed part of the enlarged portion of the annular flange and then against the remainder of the opening of. the valve permits the desired'volume exposed part of the annular flange. The temperature of the molten iron in' the ladle is such that when it is poured it is preferably between 2700 F. and 3000" F. The pouring occurs in the zone 0, indicated in Figure 1, and-while all of the revoluble parts of the casting unit are rotating. In fact, the rotating continues approximately through the zone D although the switch v46 is manually operated at app oximately the zone- E to break the supply of current to the electric motor l1. While the lined'shell is passingthrough the zone D, the liner is cooling and solidifying sufficiently so that during the initial portion of the zone A- the lined shell'can' be removed from the casting unit. This is accomplished by manually operating the valve 29 to admit air intothe outer end of the cylinder 26 to thereby move inwardly the piston 25 and associated parts including the external support 35 for the nozzles 5|. The flame from the pilot l6 the shell. Then thesealing ring 221s loosened from its adaptorplate ing with the enlarged 2i and the-third shaft 38 is forced inwardly by a suitable rod in the hands of an operator to bring the web of the shell against the ejector rods 93 inthe event that the shell has not already become disengaged from the pilot abutment' of the third shaft. Theejector rods are fixedly secured to the head I5 and slidablyextend through the body 36 of the support 35. The sealing ring may be readily disengagedfrom the shell after the latter has been removed from the casting unit in the event that the two do not separate when they drop out of engagement with the ,casting unit.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a casting machine, the combination with a revoluble shaft, an element upon and revoluble with said shaft engageable with a shell, a second shaft Within and revoluble with said first mentioned shaft, a support upon and revoluble with said second shaft for externally supporting the shell, a third shaft within and revoluble with said second shaft, means upon and revoluble with said third shaft engageable with the shell, means for exerting axial pressure upon said third shaft to move the shell toward said element, and means for exerting axial pressure upon said second shaft to move said support into external supporting relation to the shell.

2. In a machine for casting a liner in an annular portion of a shell, the combination with means for supporting the shell, of a burner for heating the annular portion, means movable relative to said supporting means for externally supporting the annular portion, a ladle for pouring fluid liner material into the annular portion while externally supported, and means connected to said burner and ladle for moving one out of the shell and the other into the shell in timed relation.

3. In a machine for casting a liner in an annu-, lar portion of ,a shell, the combination with rotatable means for supporting the shell, of a buminsertable into the shell for heating the annular portion, a ladle insertable intothe shell for pouring fluid liner material into the annular portion, a pair of arms supported for swinging movement relative to the shell and respectively connected to said burner and ladle, and means connecting said arms for moving the same in timed relation to each other to alternately move the burner and ladle into the shell.

4. In a machine for casting a liner in the annular flange of a brake drum wrought metal shell in which the annular flange has an enlarged annular portion at its free edge, the combination with an annular sealing element engageable with the free edge of the annular flange and formannular portionan annular space, of means for supporting the shell with the free edge against said sealing element, and

a ladle adapted to contain fluid liner material insertable into the shell, said ladle being formed to first pour fluid liner material into the annular space and then against the remaining exposed part of the annular flange.

5. In a machine for casting a liner in the annular flange of a brake drum wrought metal shell, the combination with an annular element adaptfor supporting'the shell independently of the external surface of the annular portion, of heating means for the annular portion of the shell movable into said shell, meansmovable relative to said supporting means for-externally supporting the annular portion, means for the moving of heating means into the shell for heating the annular portion prior to externally supporting the latter, and means for pouring fluid liner material into the annular portion while the latter is externally supported by the means aforesaid.

I 7. In a machine for casting a liner in an annular portion of a shell, means for supporting the shell independently of the external surface of the annular portion, other means movable relative to said supporting means axially of the annular portion into engagement with the external surface of the annular portion to support the same, and means for moving said other means.

8. In a machine for casting a liner in a brake drum shell having a web and an annular flange, an annular sealing element engageable with the free edge portion of the annular flange, means engageable with the web for moving the shell toward said sealing element, said moving means lar flange of a brake drum shell in which the annular flange has an enlarged portion at its free edge, a sealing element engageable with the enlarged portion, means for axially urging the shell toward said sealing element, and other means movable axially towardsaid sealing element into engagement with the external surface of the annular flange including the enlarged portion to axially move the same and clamp the enlarged portion against said sealing element. I

10. In a .machine for casting a liner in the annular flange of a shell, an annular element engageable with the free edge portion of the annular flange, means movable toward said element for moving the shell toward said element, means for limiting the movement of said moving means toward said element to provide space between the free edge portion of the annular flange and said element, and means for directing a flame against the inner surface of the annular flange,'

said element serving to confine the flame and to direct its flow past the free edge portion of the annular flange.

11. In a machine for casting a liner in the annular flange of a brake drum shell in which the annular flange has an enlarged portion at ed to engagethe free edge portion of the annular and retain 'the heat within the shell.

6. In a machine for casting a liner in an annular portion of a shell, the combination with means shell,

its free edge, a sealing ring having an annular rib spaced radially outwardly from its inner edge adapted to extend within and engage the enlarged portion for a part of its length, means for axially moving the shell toward and into engagement with said sealing ring, means for rotating said sealing ring and moving means and also the and means for pouring a predetermined amount of fluid liner material into the shell sufficient to extend radially inwardly of said rib.

12. In amachine for casting a liner in the annular flange of a brake drum shell, a sealing ring having an annular rib spaced radially outwardly from its inner edge adapted to extend within and engage a portion of the annular flange for a part of its length, means for axially moving the shell toward and into engagement with said sealing ring, means for rotating said sealing ring and moving means and also the shell, and means 5 for pouring a predetermined amount of fluid liner material into the shell sumcient to extend radial- I 1y inwarclLv of said rib.

13.111 a machine for casting a liner in an annular portion 01' a shell, the combination of means for rotatively supporting the shell, and means for heating the annular lportion comprising a burner within the annular portion and having nozzles directed toward theannular portion 

